Woman Returns Library Book 99 Years Late and It’s Amassed Around a $18,000 Late Fee

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The chapter is closed on a missing book at a New Jersey library after a woman returned it nearly a century after her relative checked it out.

While sifting through her motherā€™s belongings, 81-year-old Mary Cooper stumbled upon a book that was borrowed from the Ocean County Library in Toms River in March 1926, according to the bookā€™s checkout card as seen in footage from area news outlet 6abc Philadelphia.

ā€œThis has to have been taken out by my grandfather,ā€ she told the outlet of her motherā€™s dad, Charles Tilton.Ā ā€œIt was supposed to be returned [March 31, 1926], and unfortunately, he passed away the next year. He was a boatwright and a carpenter. I had a boat that he made for my mom.ā€

In a better-late-than-never moment, Cooper returned the book ā€”Ā Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys by A. Neely Hall ā€” 99 years later.

ā€œHe had a little girl and Iā€™m sure making toys was on his mind,ā€ Cooper added of her late grandfather.

The library, which doesnā€™t impose late fees anymore, estimated what the fine would have been if late fees still existed for them just for fun.Ā 

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ā€œIt would probably, with inflation and everything else, be $18,000 in fines, but we donā€™t have fines anymore. We are fine-free, which makes it even more easy and accessible for people to enjoy the library,ā€ Sherri Taliercio, the public information officer at Ocean County Library, told 6abc.

ā€œWhat a serendipitous thing to happen that during our 100th year is when this book got returned,ā€ Taliercio added. ā€œDivine intervention, it really is.ā€

After returning the book, Cooper got to place the book in a locked glass case in the archives section for library visitors to see.

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